Monday, November 15, 2010

MAX'S WORDS

By Kate BanksPublisher: Farrar, Straus, and GirouxISBN: 0-374-39949-2

FROM THE FLAP: Benjamin collects stamps. Karl collects coins. When their younger brother Max decides to collect words, one word leads to another until Max has a story worth telling. Now all he needs is pictures.

Enter Boris Kulikov in a brilliant collaboration with Kate Banks that attests to the wonder of words.

KATE'S TAKE: A fantastical tribute to imagination, collections, and a can-do attitude.

COIN COLLECTIONS: Logical/Mathematical and Visual/SpatialMax’s brother collects coins. Give each student a dollar’s worth of cut-out paper coins. Label each coin with a Q for quarter, D for dime, N for nickel, and P for penny. Then ask them to draw a picture of their favorite pet and label it with a price under a dollar. Hang the pets up at the front of the classroom and ask students to come shopping at the pet store. In order to take their pet home with them, the students must give the proper amount of change to the cashier to pay for the pet. Many thanks to Andy Hacket for this activity. Check out his blog here http://www.mrhacket.blogspot.com

COLLAGE TALES: Verbal/Linguistic and Visual/SpatialWord process words in different colors and cut out for kids. Ask students to choose ten cut-out words and create a sentence. Then, have them glue their sentence to the long side of a piece of 11x18 piece of construction paper. Last, ask them to illustrate their story.

COLLECTION BOOKS: Verbal/Linguistic, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Visual/SpatialGive students an 8x11 sheet of paper that has space for writing a sentence at the bottom of the sheet. Ask them to finish the following sentence: If I could collect anything in the world, I would collect_____________________ because____________________________________________.Have them illustrate their sentence and bind the papers in a book to send home with students.

CROCODILE AND ALLIGATOR SEE-SAW BOOKS: Verbal/Linguistic, Naturalist, and Visual/SpatialCollate an eight-page book for each students, and ask them to fill in the blanks. Page 1: Crocodiles and alligators hatch from __________________(eggs) but,Page 2: crocodiles have a _______________(v-shaped) snout, andPage 3: alligators have a _________________ (u-shaped) snout.Page 4: A crocodile’s fourth tooth_____________( sticks out) when its mouth is closed, butPage 5: an alligator’s fourth tooth is ___________ (hidden) when its mouth is closed.Page 6: Most crocodiles live in ________________ (salt) water, butPage 7: most alligators live in __________________ (fresh) water.Page 8: Crocodiles and alligators are _________________(reptiles).After they have filled in the blanks, ask students to illustrate the books.

FAMILY LETTERS: Verbal/Linguistic and InterpersonalAsk students to write a letter to a family member or a friend who lives far away. Ask parents to send in an addressed envelope and give students a stamp to affix to their letter. Relatives are always thrilled to receive the kids’ letters.

BOOK BUDDIES: -Alligator Tails and Crocodile Cakes by Nicola Moon -Max’s Dragon by Kate Banks -Snap! A Book About Alligators and Crocodiles by Melvin Berger -The Coin Counting Book by Rozanne Williams -Word Wizard by Cathryn Falwell

About Me

I am an author, curriculum guide consultant, and a teacher. Each week this blog features a Multiple Intelligences unit for the primary or intermediate elementary classroom based on a recently published children's book. Author interviews include information about the writing process and the Six Traits of Writing. Book submissions may be sent to 227 Mountain Road, Princeton, MA 01541. I cannot include every title, and I cannot return books. Preference will be given to books that correlate strongly with the national education standards. Only traditionally published books will be considered. If you have further questions, or would like to hire me as a curriculum guide consultant, please contact me at kate_tomATverizonDOTnet.